With a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony, construction of the new Roelofsen Horse Trucks facility at the De Zegge VII business park has officially begun. Featuring a 13,700-square-meter new build, the company takes an important step toward the future. Starting in October next year, all operations will be consolidated into a single location in Raalte.
Mayor Rob Zuidema attended the official ceremony and addressed those present: “Roelofsen is an internationally successful company that Raalte can be proud of. It is wonderful to see this enterprise rooted here and committed to remaining here in the future.”
CEO Jonny Roelofsen then gave the symbolic signal for the groundbreaking. The honor of turning the first soil went to his daughters, Dominique Nijhof-Roelofsen and Fabiënne Hoornsman-Roelofsen, alongside Arie Verweij, a key team member since the early days who has been with Roelofsen Horse Trucks for 38 years. He broke ground on behalf of all employees, marking not only the start of construction but also expressing appreciation for the team that contributed to the family business’s growth over the years.
Driven by strong growth in recent years, Roelofsen’s operations had become spread across multiple locations on Heesweg. Today, over 100 employees work daily on the development, construction, and servicing of high-end horse trucks for clients across Europe and beyond.
“Our business has grown significantly over the past few years,” says Jonny Roelofsen. “As a result, we have been operating out of multiple buildings. With this new facility, we are bringing our people, expertise, and processes back together under one roof. We are not just investing in extra space, but primarily in quality, collaboration, and the future of our company.”
The new site is rising on a 4.4-hectare plot and will accommodate production, service, engineering, sales, and support departments. Unifying all expertise under one roof creates a more efficient, forward-looking organization and allows the company to serve its customers even better and faster.
Sustainability also plays a key role in the project. The building is designed according to the latest standards in energy efficiency, climate control, and a healthy work environment. Furthermore, centralizing all operations at one location ensures streamlined logistics and reduced internal transit.
“Taking this step alongside our employees makes it extra special,” adds Roelofsen. “Next year, we will open the doors to a facility that aligns with our ambitions, our international clientele, and the next generation. Combining this milestone with our 40th anniversary makes it even more memorable. We aren’t just building a new facility here, we are building for the future.”
